What’s the meaning of your band name? Formed by Johan Frandsen in 1996, the band title THE KNOCKOUTS can mean lots of different things – THE KNOCKOUTS have respectively gained a reputation for being an amazing live act – perhaps that says it all.

Describe your nominated work: “Heat for the Hunted” was voted as Sweden’s best top three rock songs for 2009, it’s the opening song on the album, Among the Vultures.

“Ever Been Hurt” has a cocky attitude. A song that takes a pure country styling, mixes the craft of rockabilly together with the guts and authenticity of punk rock. A country ballad that takes a breather in an album full of high energy ‘knockout’ songs that stay in your head all day long.

Why did you choose to submit this work to The 10th IMA’s? Because we want to show the word how good it is. The album has received multiple accolades and reviews, THE KNOCKOUTS are on the crest of wave with ‘Among the Vultures’ picking up radio plays and loyal fans worldwide.

Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording? Johan Frandsen is currently an endorsed artist with Fender Scandinavia, Gretsch Guitars, Tv Jones, and Peerless Guitars, recently having been invited to NAMM to represent TV Jones. One of the special instruments on the album is his Gretsch Prototype GGP 6120 TM (Tiger Maple) Gretsch made this guitar in 1998 for the NAMM show (National Association of Music Merchants) held in Anaheim, California. It is one of two guitars of its kind in the world. Purchased in Stockholm, the certificate card is signed by Mr. Gretsch himself, it’s a beautiful guitar with its 17 inch falcon body. Johan has been working with TV Jones for some now, and is using his pickups in all the guitars. Johan is also an endorsed artist for Fender Scandinavia. “It’s a great honor to be working with the companies as an endorsed artist.”

Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned?Among the Vultures was recorded and produced in six days at The Panic Room, Skara, Sweden. This full length album is receiving multiple accolades and reviews.

Who is your audience? One of the great things about THE KNOCKOUTS is that we have a really wide audience, with over 130 live shows last year and throughout the world via our online presence. They are a hard working live act, and are considered to be one of hardest touring bands from Sweden since the Hellacopters, and with regular rotation on National Swedish Radio – its pretty hard to miss THE KNOCKOUTS, they have built up a great reputation with the audience.

What makes your fans unique? That we have an audience that comes to us from a lot of different genres of music – when they get together to see the shows there is a lot of love in the room.

Are there any songs you wish you wrote? The next hit single from THE KNOCKOUTS new album!

What artists are you listening to that would surprise your fans? There are a lot of surprises in our record collections, we get inspiration from many places.

What is your dream show lineup? We are fortunate enough to be regularly touring with and sharing the stage with some of the bands that have been our favorites.

What is your guilty pleasure on the road? Being able to travel with a great crew, our hardworking management and of course our full backline.

Any close calls or mishaps while on tour? In Sweden we must always watch out for moose on the roads.

Do you have any rituals before you go on stage? Warming up vocals and punching the air.

Should music be free? If groceries and taxi rides were to be free – Music should be too?

How has digital affected your career? Its great that people can listen and find out about new bands and the community that can exist online to support new music, it can on the other hand be sad for a lot of companies and artists that can find it hard to even pay the bills.

Are digital singles vs. full albums the future of music? THE KNOCKOUTS will always do both, the future is in the choice of the artist, Vinyl is making a big comeback throughout Europe, and of course bands that are outstanding live acts are really some special.